The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama

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Summary: Great read for any lover of reptiles and amphibians!
Review: A wonderful guide for identifying and learning about reptiles and amphibians in Alabama. I love this book because it goes into great detail about specimens. It is so much more extensive and educational than a field guide. I have identified various herps correctly using this book. The only aspect I would change would be to include color photos of the animals described. The black and white photos are great but you can not see the beauty of the wonderful reptiles and amphibians. It just makes me want to go out and discover the live specimens for myself. A must have addition to anyone's library.

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Summary: The BEST book on Alabama herps, period.
Review: Mount's book is the most authoritative to date on Alabama herpetology. Written for the professional and lay reader alike, this book is a "must-have" for herpetologists working not only in Alabama, but anywhere in the Southeast (I've already worn out a couple of copies). The detailed range maps are among its most useful features (multiple dots in counties indicating actual collection localities, not just a single dot per county). Another helpful section is Mount's description of the physiographic regions of the state, which he discusses as "herpetofaunal regions." Published in 1975, the book is becoming a bit dated, but a forword by the author in the 1996 re-issue brings the reader up to speed on recent discoveries. Black-and-white photographs accompany each species account.